US Visa Eligibility Quiz
Answer 8 quick questions. Get a realistic picture of which US visa routes you may qualify for — no registration, no advice, just numbers and direction.
QUESTION 1
How This Quiz Works
This tool asks you 8 questions about your education, work history, financial situation, and purpose for travelling. Based on your answers, it maps your profile against the most common US visa categories that Nigerians apply for. The logic is straightforward: your inputs get scored against the key qualifying criteria for each visa route, and the quiz surfaces the ones where you have the strongest case.
It does not predict whether you will be approved. No tool can do that. What it does is help you stop guessing and start focusing on the route that actually fits your situation.
Why Nigerians Apply for US Visas
The US remains one of the top japa destinations for Nigerians. The diaspora is large, concentrated in states like Texas, Maryland, Georgia, and New Jersey. You probably already know someone there. That familiarity lowers the psychological barrier to applying, even when the actual process is complicated.
Beyond the social angle, the US offers real pathways for education, skilled work, and eventually long-term residency. The F-1 student route is one of the more accessible entry points, especially for people with strong academic records. The H-1B work visa is harder because it depends on employer sponsorship and a lottery, but Nigerians in tech, healthcare, and finance do qualify regularly.
There is also an economic reality that pushes people. The naira has depreciated significantly over the past few years. Savings that seemed reasonable in 2020 are not enough to cover application costs today. Many applicants underestimate how dollar-denominated the process is.
Main US Visa Routes for Nigerians
F-1 Student Visa
Best for people who have been admitted to an accredited US school and can show they have enough money to cover at least the first year of tuition and living expenses. The challenge is not the visa itself. It is proving to the consular officer that you intend to return to Nigeria after your studies. That is where most applications fall apart.
Typical cost to apply: $185 SEVIS fee plus $160 MRV fee. You will also need to show proof of funds, usually in the range of $25,000 to $45,000 depending on the school.
B1/B2 Visitor Visa
This is the tourist or business visitor visa. It is the most commonly applied for and also the most commonly refused for Nigerian applicants. The consular officer has to believe you will leave the US when your permitted stay ends. If your financial situation is weak, your ties to Nigeria are thin, or your travel history is limited, refusal rates go up significantly.
H-1B Work Visa
You need a US employer to sponsor you and the petition has to go through an annual lottery. The cap is 65,000 visas per year for regular applicants, with an additional 20,000 slots for those with US master’s degrees or higher. Demand far exceeds supply, so a lottery selection is not guaranteed even with a legitimate offer.
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
For people with exceptional achievements in their field. Think published researchers, award-winning professionals, founders with notable press coverage, or athletes. It does not go through a lottery and can be a strong option for the right profile.
EB-1 / EB-2 / EB-3 Immigrant Visas (Green Card)
These are employment-based paths to permanent residency. EB-1 is for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, or multinational managers. EB-2 covers professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, and includes the National Interest Waiver option which does not require employer sponsorship. EB-3 covers skilled and unskilled workers. Processing times for Nigerians on these routes are long because Nigeria is oversubscribed, meaning annual visa numbers fill up fast.
Table of Common Profiles and Likely Routes
| Profile | Most Likely Route | Key Requirement | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate student, school admission secured | F-1 | Proof of funds (first year) | 2 to 4 months after admission |
| Tech professional, US employer offer | H-1B (lottery) | Employer sponsorship + lottery selection | 6 to 12 months if selected |
| Researcher or published academic | O-1 or EB-1 | Evidence of extraordinary ability | 4 to 12 months |
| Visiting family member | B2 | Strong ties to Nigeria, travel history | 2 to 6 weeks (if approved) |
| Professional with advanced degree | EB-2 NIW | Evidence of national interest contribution | 2 to 5 years (backlog) |
| Business owner attending conference | B1 | Business documentation, return ties | 2 to 8 weeks (if approved) |
What This Quiz Does Not Cover
It does not assess diversity visa (DV Lottery) eligibility, because that is random and you simply enter and hope. It does not cover asylum or refugee status. It does not account for prior visa denials in detail, which can significantly affect your case. And it cannot factor in consular discretion, which is a real variable that no tool can quantify.
Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: Single Applicant, IT Professional
Chika has a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and 4 years of experience as a software developer. She has a job offer from a company in Texas willing to sponsor her H-1B. Her profile is solid for H-1B, but she needs to go through the lottery in April, which she may or may not win. If unsuccessful, her employer can try the NIW route or an O-1 petition if her work qualifies. Total cost for H-1B: roughly $3,000 to $5,000 in filing fees paid by the employer, plus her own consular fees.
Scenario 2: Couple, Graduate Study Route
Tunde is going to study for a Masters in Public Health at a Texas university. His wife Bisi wants to join him. Tunde gets F-1. Bisi qualifies for F-2 as a dependent spouse, which is tied directly to Tunde’s status. She can live in the US but cannot work on F-2. Combined proof of funds required: usually the university’s estimated cost of attendance plus an additional living allowance for the spouse. Expect to show at least $40,000 to $60,000 in liquid assets.
Scenario 3: Family with One Child, EB-2 NIW Route
Dr. Adaeze is a cardiologist with publications and a track record of speaking at international conferences. She qualifies to self-petition under EB-2 NIW, meaning no employer sponsorship is needed. Her husband and their 7-year-old son can be included as derivative beneficiaries. But Nigeria’s EB-2 priority date is heavily backlogged. This is a long game: filing now, waiting 3 to 7 years, and adjusting status when a visa number becomes available. Total government fees for the family: roughly $4,000 to $6,000 across all filings, not counting attorney fees.
Common Questions
Is this quiz mandatory before applying?
No. You can go straight to the US Embassy website or consult an attorney. This quiz exists to help you orient yourself before spending money on applications for the wrong visa category.
Does a high quiz score mean I will get the visa?
No. The quiz assesses whether your profile matches the qualifying criteria. Approval depends on the consular officer’s judgment, your documentation, and factors outside any tool’s scope.
What if I have been refused before?
A prior refusal changes your profile, especially for the same visa type. You would need to address what caused the refusal and show that circumstances have materially changed. The quiz flags this as a risk factor but cannot advise on how to handle it.
Does this include the cost of the visa in naira?
The quiz gives estimates in USD. At the current parallel market rate, $160 (the standard MRV fee) is roughly N250,000 to N280,000, depending on the day. This fluctuates. Check a live converter before budgeting.
Can I apply for multiple visa types at once?
Technically, nothing prevents you from applying for multiple non-immigrant visas. But applying for an F-1 and a B2 simultaneously can create intent conflict issues. Most attorneys recommend focusing on one route that genuinely fits your situation.
What does “strong ties to Nigeria” actually mean?
It means documented reasons you would return home: a job, a business, property ownership, dependent family members, or a bank account showing regular activity. Consular officers look for evidence of a life worth returning to. The more concrete, the better.
Is the DV Lottery worth it?
It is free to enter and the odds are low but real. In recent years, roughly 50,000 visas are issued globally and Nigeria is eligible to participate. If you meet the basic education or work requirement, there is no downside to entering annually while pursuing other routes.
How current is the data in this quiz?
This quiz was last updated in 2025. Visa requirements, lottery caps, and processing times change. Always confirm the latest requirements at travel.state.gov or through an immigration attorney before filing anything.
